QUOTE(Kariston @ Dec 4 2006, 09:12 PM)
Okay I just recently learned that my patron god was Hermes/Thoth. When i say learned, I discovered it by myself through extraordinary coincidences that coincided with his realm and background. I was looking for some holidays that I could celebrate to pay tribute to him. Personally, I have yet to figure out how to celebrate these holidays let alone how I am going to do them.
So here is this topic about how everyone celebrates their God(s)/Goddess(es).
Experiences shared here please. =3
Greetings Kariston,
There is no shame in new beginnings, actually we all had to start our journey with a first step. In regards to certain celebrations of Ancient Egyptian Rituals and Rites, I would like to share something with you that may be instructional in your search for Egyptian Rituals and Rites. Do not feel that this is trying to convert you to any particular belief system, for truly the only one that can determine what path to follow, is the person walking it.
The major texts from Egyptian Papyri that describe in detail some of the Rites practices in the 18th to 20th Dynasties come from what is known as the "Papyris of Ani." These Papyri have been translated after the finding of the Rosetta Stone by British Archaeologists in Egypt. With the Rosetta Stone the Archaeologists were able to decipher the true meaning of Heiroglyphics. The most indepth book I have found with the Heiroglyphic, Coptic and English Translations is "The Egyptian Book of The Dead" translated by E.A. Wallis Budge. This book describes many Rituals and Rites of the passage of the Soul into the Hall of The Gods of Amenti.
The Neophyte Ritual in the Hermetic Order of The Golden Dawn follows after the 125th Chapter recitals of "The Egyptian Book of The Dead," also the weigheing of the Heart by Ma'at, or the Goddess of Truth which weighs the Heart of the deceased with the Feather of Truth in the balances. This occurs in the Hall of Judgement, from, whence when a Soul gains passage enters into the presence of the 42 lesser Deities who when in their presence the Soul recites a confession, called the "42 Negative Confessions" describing the absence of certain actions from their lives which will elevate them into being accepted into Amenti, or the Fields of Osiris.
One place a Modern Form of this Ritual can be located is in the book "Self Initiation Into The Golden Dawn Tradition," by Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero. Also for an Online version that resembles this Ancient Egyptian Ritual you may type in your search engine the words: " Ritual Aleph" this Ritual is adapted to the Ordo Templi Orientis Rituals and was written by Bill Heidrick.
It is a very worthwhile study to learn of some of the Ancient Rites, and I also applaud your use of the Crowley Thoth Deck in order to connect the God Thoth which is also known in later times in Greek as the Thrice Great Hermes Trismegustus, with the discovery of your Path.
Respectfully,
Helel (Joseph)
This post has been edited by Joseph: Dec 9 2006, 09:38 PM